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Jakob Oetama receives military funeral at Kalibata Heroes Cemetery

Former vice president Jusuf Kalla acted as the ceremony inspector in a televised ceremony by Kompas TV.

Rizki Fachriansyah and Ghina Ghaliya (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Fri, September 11, 2020

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Jakob Oetama receives military funeral at Kalibata Heroes Cemetery

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ate Kompas Gramedia cofounder Jakob Oetama was laid to rest in a military funeral at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery, South Jakarta, on Thursday.

Former vice president Jusuf Kalla acted as the ceremony inspector in a televised ceremony by Kompas TV.

“I, Muhammad Jusuf Kalla, on behalf of the country and the Indonesian Military [TNI], hereby present to the Motherland [Jakob’s] body, soul and virtues,” Jusuf said during the funeral, which commenced at 11.20 a.m.

“May his good deeds inspire all of us, may his soul have its rightful place in the afterlife.”

Kompas spokesperson Rusdi Amral said in a statement that the military funeral was meant to pay homage to Jakob’s stature as a recipient of the Bintang Mahaputra Utama honorary award. The government granted him the award in 1973 for his achievements in journalism.

“Jakob Oetama’s funeral at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery was meant as a tribute to the Bintang Mahaputra Utama [medal] awarded to him in 1973 when he served as a member of the MPR [People’s Consultative Assembly],” Rusdi said.

Prior to the funeral in Kalibata, Jakob’s relatives officially handed over his body to the assembly’s Speaker Bambang Soesatyo on behalf of the government at the Kompas Gramedia building in Palmerah, Central Jakarta, at 10:27 a.m.

“On behalf of the country and TNI, I hereby receive the body of doctor honoris causa Jakob Oetama,” Bambang stated during the procession.

Jakob died on Wednesday at the age of 88 at Mitra Keluarga Hospital in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta.

Jakob was born in Magelang, Central Java, on Sept. 27, 1931. He graduated from Yogyakarta’s Gadjah Mada University in 1961.

He started his career in journalism with Petrus Kanisius Ojong – among the country’s active figures in journalism and politics – to publish Intisari magazine. The magazine paved the way for the establishment of Kompas newspaper in 1965.

The Kompas Gramedia group has expanded to other sectors, including printing, hospitality and television. Jakob is well known for his philosophical, thoughtful and polite writing style, which bordered on non-confrontational and humble, yet supported by logical arguments.

Jakob was awarded an honorary doctoral degree in communications by his alma mater on April 17, 2003.

Government officials and lawmakers are mourning the death of Jakob.

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan extended his condolences on Wednesday through his Twitter account @aniesbaswedan.

“Farewell, Pak Jakob Oetama. His services and contributions to the nation were extraordinary. It’s a big and noble task to continue his legacy,” the governor tweeted.

The National Police also expressed their condolences over Jakob’s death, with spokesperson Insp. Gen. Argo Yuwono calling him “Indonesia’s best press figure”.

Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko called Jakob a person who stressed the importance of having a conscience above all.

“Thank you for your services in journalism in Indonesia.”

House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) also extended her condolences. She said Jakob was very close to the nation’s first president and her grandfather, Sukarno, who suggested the name Kompas upon the foundation of the newspaper in 1965.

“At that time, Bung Karno said, ‘Do you know what a compass is? It’s our direction across the ocean and jungle,” Puan said, quoting Sukarno’s words.

People’s Consultative Assembly Deputy Speaker Asrul Sani said Jakob inspired him to fight for people’s interests and to maintain idealism when the politician served as a Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) lawyer in the 1980s.

“His passing is a loss for us all. Pak Jakob doesn’t only belong to Kompas Gramedia or Indonesian journalism but also to many different elements of society, as well as any religion, ethnicity and political group,” the United Development Party (PPP) politician said.

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